NBER Working Papers and Publications

In structural dynamic discrete choice models, the presence of serially correlated unobserved states and state variables that are measured with error may lead to biased parameter estimates and misleading inference. In this paper, we show that instrumental variables can address these issues, as long as measurement problems involve state variables that evolve exogenously from the perspective of individual agents (i.e., market-level states). We define a class of linear instrumental variables estimators that rely on Euler equations expressed in terms of conditional choice probabilities (ECCP estimators). These estimators do not require observing or modeling the agent’s entire information set, nor solving or simulating a dynamic program. As such, they are simple to implement and computationally ...

While inferring markups from demand data is common practice, estimation relies on difficult-to-test assumptions, including a specific model of how firms compete. Alternatively, markups can be inferred from production data, again relying on a set of difficult-to-test assumptions, but a wholly different set, including the assumption that firms minimize costs using a variable input. Relying on data from the US brewing industry, we directly compare markup estimates from the two approaches. After implementing each approach for a broad set of assumptions and specifications, we find that both approaches provide similar and plausible markup estimates in most cases. The results illustrate how using the two strategies together can allow researchers to evaluate structural models and identify problema...

Dynamic discrete choice models (DDC) are not identified nonparametrically. However, the non-identification of DDC models does not necessarily imply non-identification of counterfactuals of interest. Using a novel approach that can accommodate both nonparametric and restricted payoff functions, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the identification of counterfactual behavior and welfare for a broad class of counterfactuals. The conditions are simple to check and can be applied to virtually all counterfactuals in the DDC literature. To explore the robustness of counterfactual results to model restrictions in practice, we consider a numerical example of a monopolist's entry problem, as well as an empirical model of agricultural land use. In each case, we provide examples of bot...